Each year, Green Lodging News reports on the recipients of the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show’s Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards. I posted a press release about the awardees this past week. Several of the awardees have been particularly innovative. Here are just a few of the awarded innovations that caught my eye: BDGR LLC’s OiLChef device doubles the life of cooking oil in deep fryers and enables operators to reduce cooking times. When the life of that cooking oil is over, BDGR has figured out a way to transform it into a biodegradable degreaser—a safe cleaning solution that biodegrades within 31...

CHICAGO—The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show has selected 20 recipients of its 2026 Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards, recognizing foodservice equipment and technology designed to support day-to-day foodservice execution through smarter automation, sustainability, and operational resilience. This year's class of awardees reflects the realities operators are managing on the ground, including workforce constraints, tighter margins, and limited room for disruption during service. The selected solutions focus on helping kitchens maintain consistency and speed during peak service, with equipment and systems designed for day-to-day use. “Operators are no longer experimenting with technology; they are relying on it,” said Tom Cindric, President of Exhibitions for...

SINGAPORE—COMO Hotels and Resorts’ dedication to thoughtful travel—defined by holistic wellbeing, inspired dining, and intuitive service—takes a bold new direction with a rare Arctic collaboration. Partnering with specialist expedition operator Natural World Safaris, the award-winning hospitality group has created two micro-cruises to the Svalbard archipelago: immersive, small-group, expert-led expeditions that carry the brand’s sensibility beyond its hotels and resorts and into one of the world’s most remote regions. Launching in May and September 2026, the 10- and 11-night itineraries offer rare access to the High Arctic, paired with the refinement and quiet elegance for which COMO is known. As the first...

SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA—At a time when travel is no longer defined merely by changing locations but by understanding the soul of the places visited, Marriott International hotels transform Latin America into a living map of flavors, art, history, and traditions. Through a curated selection of properties in Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, and Peru, the company invites travelers to immerse themselves in experiences that foster a deep and meaningful connection with the identity of each destination. In Guanacaste, W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal elevates tasting into a cultural experience. Its Rum & Chocolate Tasting offers a sensory journey that brings together aged rum and...

KOHALA COAST, HAWAII—Hawaii Island’s first resort, the iconic Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, originally envisioned by Laurance S. Rockefeller, unveils its $180+ million, multi-phased renovation representing the most extensive transformation in the propertys 60-year history. An Autograph Collection hotel and part of the expansive Mauna Kea Resort—which also includes The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort and Mauna Kea Residences—the reimagined Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is now fully open to welcome both returning and first-time guests, carrying forward Rockefeller’s vision of harmonizing world-class hospitality with Hawaii’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and environmental stewardship. The comprehensive renovation unveils 252 fully reimagined guestrooms and suites, a refreshed family resort pool featuring a new oceanfront hot tub, and five private...

NATIONAL REPORT—Cold-storage rooms may look like simple metal boxes, but their performance is governed by what lies between the inner and outer walls. Insulation determines how efficient the refrigeration is, how much energy is consumed, how long it resists moisture and corrosion, and, ultimately, how reliably it protects food or pharmaceuticals. As energy codes tighten and operating margins shrink, cold storage manufacturers are rethinking everything from the materials they use to the systems that shape them. The industry is moving toward three central priorities: higher performance insulation, precision driven automation, and more sustainable manufacturing practices. Why Traditional Foam Falls Short For...

MIAMI—Amerikooler, a U.S. based leader in commercial refrigeration solutions, is redefining walk-in cooler and freezer installations with its comprehensive Nationwide Installation Service, designed for seamless project execution from delivery to start-up. With a network of certified professionals that spans the United States, every project is handled, whether in city centers or remote areas, by experts who meet stringent in-house certification standards, ensuring flawless assembly and reliable performance. The fully managed, white-glove process lifts the burden of coordinating complex installs and lets businesses focus on their operations, while Amerikooler’s team oversees everything from measurements to layout, project management, and system commissioning....

ROSENDALE, N.Y.—Starwood Hotels, the sustainable hotel management company founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, announced plans for 1 Hotel & Homes Hudson Valley, set on the pristine shores of Fifth Lake in New York’s Ulster County. This upcoming development will be a significant addition to 1 Hotels, the mission-driven, nature-inspired luxury lifestyle brand. With residences projected to be offered for purchase beginning in Summer 2026 and a resort scheduled to open in 2028, the project will combine world-class hospitality, sustainability, and private branded luxury in one of the Hudson Valley’s most stunning natural settings. Less than a two-hour drive from...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Students pursuing careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry can now apply for a post-secondary scholarship for the 2026 to 2027 school year from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Applications are open through March 15 at ChooseRestaurants.org/Scholarships. The Foundation will award nearly $1 million in scholarships in the coming school year, with the goal of equipping individuals to build careers across more than 70 vocations in the restaurant and hospitality industry including culinary arts, hospitality management, and marketing. Financial awards range from $2,500 to $10,000 and can be used to defray education-related expenses, including tuition and fees, books, room...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—There is a safe, clean method for transferring used cooking oil even when a kitchen’s containment tank is located far away from the fryer. Frontline International’s Used Cooking Oil Pump Station can be mounted on a wall, floor, or even in the ceiling near the FOG-generating equipment. It safely moves fats, oils, and grease to a remote containment tank via a trunk line running from the top of the pump station to a valve on the tank. The stainless-steel nozzle connects to a high-temperature, spring-loaded suction hose. This enables clean and thorough transfer of used shortening or fats from...